Is it possible to get 3 purple hearts from one war?

Answer 1

Yes and here is the criteria. Sometimes it dont take much to get one. Sometimes it means your life.


Awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with an Armed Force of the United States after 5 April 1917, has been killed or wounded.

(1) In action against an enemy of the United States.
(2) In action with an opposing armed force of a foreign country in which the Armed Forces of the United States are or have been engaged.
(3) While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.
(4) As the result of an act of any such enemy or opposing armed force.
(5) As the result of an act of any hostile foreign force.
(6) As the result of friendly weapon fire while actively engaging the enemy.
(7) As the indirect result of enemy action. (example: injuries resulting from parachuting from a plane brought down by enemy or hostile fire.)
(8) As the result of maltreatment inflicted by their captors while a prisoner of war.
(9) After 28 March 1973, as a result of international terrorist attack against the U.S. or a foreign nation friendly to the U.S.
(10) After 28 March 1973, as a result of military operations while serving outside the territory of the United States as part of a peacekeeping force.

Answer 2

Yes, the record is Major General Robert T. Frederick who commanded the 1st Special Service Force(the "Devils Brigade" made up of Americans & Canadians) he recieved 8 wounds in World War II.

Lt. Robert Howard(MOH) recieved 8 Purple Hearts while serving in MACV-SOG in Vietnam

The Late Col. David Hackworth held 8 Purple Hearts as well, Four for wounds in the Korean War, Four for wounds in Vietnam.

Richard J. Buck recieved 4 Purple Hearts in Korea, and Four in Vietnam

Answer 3

Yes. Purple Hearts are awarded based on wounds received, not the war they are earned in on a basis of one Purple Heart for any and all wounds received as a result of enemy action in any instance of combat. Theoretically, a service member can receive a Purple Heart every day he is in combat provided that each day he receives a wound in seperate combat actions each day.

Answer 4

You can get a purple heart for every occasion you are wounded in battle on different occassions, as long as someone put you up for it.

Answer 5

I know an officer in Iraq who got three purple hearts.

We called him the 'bullet magnet.'

Answer 6

Yes, say you get some shrapnel and go to medic, heal up and back into the action. Get shot say in the stomach or back in a not so bad spot and go to medic and soon back into the action. And again you get shot, shrapnel, or some kind of injury again and yeah.

Answer 7

Yes... if you are wounded in separate incidents, you recieve a medal for each incident.

I got two out of the first Gulf War... and yes, one wound was square in my tush !!

Answer 8

absolutely. if you are on officer and, lets say you get a paper cut, indegstion, and maybe get your feelings hurt, you would get three purple hearts to go with your silver star for valor.

unfortunatly, if you are lower enlisted and have to go out on missions and actually leave the wire, you have to die to get a bronze star.

you think i'm being a smartass, huh. i've been in iraq. i've seen officers who went on less than 10 missions get silver stars, my 2 best friends had to die to get bronze stars, i've seen high ranking guys get purple hearts for nothing and seen guys seriously injured get nothing(except for a hard time from medical people), i've also seen a private who went on 400+ missions get an army achievement medal (a slap in the face to say the least)

Answer 9

It's possible to get 20. However, it's not something a soldier aspires to.

Answer 10

Yes, it is. John Kerry claims to have three from his service in Vietnam.